Saturday, December 21, 2002
posted by Carla Passino at 10:07 PM
- They have a word for people who think that all the world is conspiring against them
- That's right: perceptive
(Woody Allen)
Friday, December 20, 2002
posted by Carla Passino at 2:07 PM
Where there is love there is life
(Mahatma Gandhi)
posted by Mooraq at 12:58 PM
The Retarded Son Of Star Wars
Why it doesn’t work and it’s a stupid project
Check out this good analysis on the MIT Technology Review. Apparently the Missile Defense System does not work. A smaller, leaner version could be much more effective, and more acceptable to international opinion. Maybe this Administration will reconsider pissing off most of the world for something that does not even work, but somehow I doubt it.
posted by Carla Passino at 9:03 AM
It's Holiday Time
International Sentinel goes on holiday for Christmas
Due to the Christmas holidays, IS will go on vacation until January 5. Should all the problems in the world have been solved by that date, we will refrain from further comments. As I very much doubt that it will happen, you will find us back here, fighting tooth and nail against ignorance and idiocy, venting our opinions and keeping you updated on things big and small taking place near and far.
In the meantime, we occasionally post some inspirational quotes throughout the holiday period. Come and check them if you are interested in insightful thoughts. Also, watch out for a special posting on January 1, 2003. And, of course, you can still use our magnificent postcards (disclosure: this is a shameless plug) to wish the people you love Merry Christmas.
Mooraq and I wish all of you a Fantastic Christmas and a Fabulous New Year.
Thursday, December 19, 2002
posted by Mooraq at 2:39 PM
The French And The War On Terror
Saddam is digging his own grave but US has to fight the smart fight
If further proof was needed that international co-operation works. France has found Saddam’s weapon declaration misleading and false, and appears ready to support an eventual war on Iraq.
Despite the doubts that many US official had, the UN resolution that gave Iraq one last chance to comply with international rules was a masterstroke. A lot of countries around the world are not against making war on bloody dictators, they are against a US that acts on its own, outside the boundaries of the recognized international community. On top of that, in the war against terror, seizing the moral high ground is as important as winning real battles. The fight is not only against dictators and fanatics but is also for the hearts and minds of million of people. Muslims around the world must be convinced to reject the extremists, driving them in the open, not pushed into joining them. If Arabs feel that the whole war on terror is simply an excuse to advance American (and Western) interests in their countries, the war will never be won and it will become an endless circle of blood.
This is why it still amazes me how the present US administration is evading its responsibility to take a firm stance in the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The publication of a roadmap to peace, will be again delayed, to the joy of extremists of both sides. Without a serious effort to stop the violence in Israel and to re-start the peace process, the US will stir even more anti-American feelings in the Middle East. All the more surprising because it would take the US just a little effort to show that it is seriously committed to be a force for freedom and liberty, not just for its own interests.
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
posted by Mooraq at 4:54 PM
And Now...
For something completely different!
International Sentinel is proud to present you: the International Sentinel Postcards.
Beautiful photographs taken by Yours Truly and Carla in their adventurous voyages around the globe. Send your favourite to George W, Tony, Vladimir, Jacques and other world leaders to convince them to come here and read how to fix all the world's problems. Oh, you can also send them to your friends and familty, if you really want to.
posted by Mooraq at 4:39 PM
A very British West Wing
Blair for president?
Thomas Friedman has the perfect Democratic candidate for that job in the Oval office. Who? Tony Blair! After all he has all the qualities of a Clinton without any of the faults. Apart from that little problem of speaking a different language (as Oscar Wilde pointed out) I agree that Tony would be a perfect candidate and an even better President. His style is certainly presidential more than prime-ministerial.
It’s curious how Blair is more admired abroad than in his own country. In the UK, despite two landslide electoral victories, people do not really like him. He is often accused of being opportunistic and obsessed with spin. People trust him to run their country, but you always get the idea that he is respected rather then admired or truly liked. Nobody denies though that he is a fantastic communicator. It’s a shame (for the Democratic party most of all) that he is not eligible for the job (one of the main requirements, understandably so, is being American-born). The retirement of Gore the man-of-wood from the presidential race has highlighted how high a mountain the Democrats need to climb to get to the White House. The pretenders to the crown have a lot of work to do.
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
posted by Mooraq at 1:53 PM
Kyoto and its enemies
US is not pulling its weight in the fight against global warming, no surprise here.
A good article on the IHT highlights why Europe is more aware of the effect of global warming.
Maybe it’s time some Americans realize that they are not alone in the world… I suppose those who voted for Nader at the last elections will be happy with the environmental policies of the present administration.
posted by Mooraq at 1:40 PM
Famine in India
More should be done to avoid it, but not what people usually think
According to an article on the FT (registration required), 50% of India’s children are underweight and more people suffer from malnourishment there than in Africa. I can just imagine what Naomi Klein and her no-global followers would make of such statistics. Cries of the big bad multinational-dominated world that feeds the rich with Big Macs while the poor starve, would resonate in the streets of Europe and US.
Hold on a sec, apparently India also has an enormous stockpile of food that is currently being left to rotten in warehouses, or sold under-cost to other nations. Basically, the Indian Government has so much food that it doesn’t know what to do with. It’s just that a prehistoric and corrupt distribution system, coupled with crazy farming-subsidy policies makes it impossible to distribute to the poors all the food that is produced. Well-off farmers get paid an unreasonable amount of taxpayers’ money to produce food that is then thrown away. It sounds very much as the European CAP or the recent subsidies that the Bush Government created.
As I pointed out in other posts, these subsidies are hurting the world but so are the idiotic policies pursued by several developing countries. Those always quick to point the finger at the fat cats of the western world, should think a little bit more about where the real culprits of famine and hunger are. They will often find them in the bucolic third world countries that the no-global movement would like to take as a model of (under) development. .
Monday, December 16, 2002
posted by Mooraq at 5:14 PM
The Power of Journalism
Thirty years after the Watergate, the (electronic) pen is still mightier than the sword
Hat to Joshua Marshall and his blog. Trent Lott’s remarks last week (if you live on another planet you can read about them here) would have gone largely unnoticed if not for the good work of Joshua and some other online journalists. Now it appears that a full political case will rightly develop.
On the subject of why mainstream media ignored the story, Mr. Marshall himself, in an article in today’s FT, offers the explanation under the form of a media’s “wilful amnesia to the veiled politics of race hatred and resentment that still operates in many parts of the US South”. There might be some truth to that but I also believe that a lot of traditional media have become lazy and too comfortable as part of the establishment. When I read Bob Woodward's recent books, all joyous odes to current leaders without an ounce of critical insight and analysis, I wonder if he is still the same guy who made history by forcing Nixon to resign.
Except where a saucy sex scandal is involved, media coverage of all things politics has become sterilized and superficial at best. It is no wonder that some of the best and most inquisitive analysis is now coming from non-conventional channels like the Internet.
(I will add a permanent link to talkingpointememo on the right column, it is a blog well worth reading).
posted by Carla Passino at 3:31 PM
Ave Mediterraneum, Cunabula Culturae
American cultural hegemony becomes a thing of the past as 'Latin' values come to the fore
Mediterranean culture rules, according to Italian Sociology Professor Domenico De Masi. Writing on La Repubblica, De Masi claims that what he loosely calls 'Latin' values - laicism, a celebration of man in all his expressions, a quest for beauty, art, culture, the deliberate choice of a more enjoyable pace of life - are slowly but surely triumphing over Anglo-American productivism and competitiveness.
Coming from an Italian, it smacks of shameless self-promotion, but De Masi's views mirror an article which appeared in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung earlier in the year. "Spaghettisiert euch!" Spaghettise yourselves, urged Germany's authoritative paper, because today's global culture comes from Italy.
This will sound passing strange to the anti globalisation hordes engaged in a daily battle against American hegemony. Surely the mushrooming of McDonald's around the world, the widespread use of American English, the Nike advertisements in places as far apart as Japan and Africa are incontrovertible signs of the Yankees' cultural domination? And yet .. half the recipes in this month's Gourmet magazine come from 'Latin' countries or have a Latin origin. Half the clothes in London's leading department stores are either designed or made in Italy - or both. Western countries are experiencing a fascination with cultures which place the emphasis on values other than work, be it Italian quality of life or Indian spiritualism. I wonder how long it will take before Naomi Klein and her cohorts start boycotting spaghetti and Yoga classes.
posted by Mooraq at 1:36 PM
Some (Slow) Progress on the Defense Front
The ESDP gets a boost from Copenhagen
At the margins of the historical agreement to enlarge the EU, something else happened in Copenhagen this weekend. The EU finally managed to agree with Turkey the terms under which an army can be deployed, under the EU banner but leveraging the EU NATO assets. It’s a small but significant step in streamlining the organization of the various European armed forces and to clarify their dual role as NATO and EU members.
I do not believe that Europe will build a serious military capability any time soon; too many economical, historical and political factors are against this. But even a little increase in spending coupled with improvements in efficiency and co-ordination could make a European Army an effective support and counter-balance to the US super-power. More ambitious peace-keeping missions could be organised and, to a smaller extent, some international policing could be shouldered with ease.
The main obstacle to the realization of this project is the still strongly entrenched nationalistic attitude of some EU Governments, thorn between the realization that they are not powerful enough to act on their own but still reluctant to really poll resources together. Now that the big enlargement has been achieved, the EU’s attention for the next 5 years will be on streamlining its internal organization and structure. The main drive will be on the civil front, with the new Constitution currently under discussion and other economic and legislative initiatives. But a strong progress on the military and foreign policy front is not only desirable but necessary if the EU is serious about assuming its full role in the world.
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